Halperin becomes the first woman to lead the legendary music publication in its nearly 60-year history
Rolling Stone has tapped Sean Woods and Shirley Halperin to serve as Co-Editors in Chief, marking a new chapter for the music publication that’s been shaping cultural conversations for nearly six decades.
Woods, who has spent over two decades at Rolling Stone as executive editor, stepped into his new role immediately from the magazine’s New York headquarters. Halperin, previously co-editor in chief of The Hollywood Reporter, officially joins September 1st in a dual role as both co-editor in chief and head of music, splitting her time between New York and Los Angeles.
The appointment makes Halperin the first woman to hold the editor-in-chief position at Rolling Stone since the publication launched nearly 60 years ago.
Woods has guided Rolling Stone to significant editorial recognition during his tenure as executive editor. Under his leadership, the publication earned three National Magazine Awards, two George Polk Awards, and various other honors including GLAAD, DART, and LA Press Club Awards. In 2023, Rolling Stone received its first Emmy nomination for the multimedia investigation “The DJ and The War Crimes.”
Halperin brings more than twenty years of experience in entertainment and music journalism from positions at Variety, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Los Angeles Magazine. She helped launch industry events like Variety’s Hitmakers and Billboard’s annual No.1s franchises. Her work has earned multiple LA Press Club awards and resulted in three published books.
“This partnership represents an exciting evolution for Rolling Stone,” Woods said. “Julian and Shirley bring tremendous fresh perspective, passion, and energy to our mission. We’re prepared to explore new formats and approaches while maintaining our commitment to investigative journalism, breaking news coverage, compelling feature writing, and cultural commentary.”
Halperin shared her excitement about the historic appointment: “I’m deeply honored – both personally and professionally – to help guide the next era of the world’s most influential music brand as its first female editor-in-chief. Collaborating with Sean Woods, who has expertly guided Rolling Stone’s editorial direction and solidified its position as a journalism leader over the past twenty years, is an extraordinary privilege.”
CEO Julian Holguin praised the leadership pairing: “Sean and Shirley represent unparalleled expertise and storytelling passion, and their collaboration will be instrumental in shaping Rolling Stone’s future trajectory. Both leaders bring exceptional vision and profound understanding of our brand’s legacy, ensuring continued delivery of the world-class journalism and culture-defining conversations our audience expects.”
The leadership change positions Rolling Stone to adapt to the changing media landscape while maintaining its role as a cultural authority and voice in music journalism.
